Resin.io Boston Workshop and Hackathon

Build an Internet of Things (IoT) project on resin.io!

Are you a 'hardware curious' developer who's been thinking about building an IoT project? Or perhaps you're an experienced hobbyist and hacker looking to take your project to the next level? Or maybe you just want to learn more about resin.io and the Internet of Things?

Join the resin.io team for a day-long workshop and hackathon at MassChallenge Boston and build an IoT project from start to finish. We'll provide everybody with a starter kit (Raspberry Pi 3 and peripherals + basic Sense HAT + reference project ideas) and all the support you need to get your project up and running. The kits are yours to keep so you can continue hacking at home!

Brought to you in partnership with GE Ventures.

About resin.io

Resin.io helps you develop, deploy, and manage your code on connected devices, whether it's home automation, robotics, complex applications, or small server nodes. We bring a modern and accessible software development workflow, including Docker containers and 'git push' functionality, to the Internet of Things. Our mission is to help create a fully programmable world by unlocking the power of edge computing as the most powerful platform for innovation.

FAQs

Will there be food provided?

Yes, we will provide a light breakfast, lunch, early dinner and plenty of snacks, drinks, and coffee.

Do I need to bring a laptop at the hackathon?

Yes, please bring your own laptop to the hackathon! And don't forget a charger.

Can I bring my own hardware to use at the hackathon?

Definitely! It helps, though, if you check what sort of devices are currently supported on resin.io. And remember that we'll have hardware kits available for all attendees to use.

How can I prepare myself for the hackathon?

If you're completely new to resin.io and/or the Internet of Things, don't worry! We'll go step-by-step through everything you need to get started. However, if you want to make the most of your time and the expertise we'll have on hand, there are a few things you can do beforehand to hit the ground running:

• Know the basics of working in a Linux terminal (on Windows 10? Go here first)

• Install Git and learn a few basics. We'll use Git to deploy code to your devices

• Install Etcher. Etcher will be used to flash your SD card with resinOS

• Generate a public SSH key. This is needed to securely git push to resin.io

• Create a resin.io account

• Create an application for the Raspberry Pi 3 device type, and download the latest resinOS image. We recommend you download both a .dev and a .prod image to use at the hackathon. 

With this list completed, you'll have all the developer tools you need to dive into the workshops. And you if want to be super-duper prepared, take some time to learn about the technologies you'll be working with:

• Beginner's Guide to the Raspberry Pi

• Sense HAT projects

• How does resin.io work?

Are there examples of projects I'll be able to work on?

We've got a handful of projects that have everything you need to deploy to your device without modification. These are great for getting familiar with resin.io, and they can serve as a base for your project:

• A simple web server for controlling the Sense HAT with Amazon's Alexa

• Snake on the Sense HAT—uses the joystick and built with Node.js

• Tunnel game on the Sense HAT—uses the orientation sensors and built with Python

• A Sense HAT binary clock

• An ElectronJS template for displaying to HDMI and touchscreen displays

These are, of course, a very small sample of what can be done with a Raspberry Pi, a Sense HAT, and some creative thinking. For more inspiration, check out these projects:

• A Sense HAT stock ticker

• A Raspberry Pi bathroom availability indicator

• Mini weather station built with the Sense HAT

• Voice-controlled drone fleet

The sky really is the limit, so bring your craziest ideas and let us help you figure out how to make them a reality!

What's the schedule for the day?

It'll be flexible, but you can expect something like:

• 8:30am: doors open

• 9-10am: breakfast, welcome, and intro to resin.io

• 10-11am: workshop - getting started on resin.io

• 11am-12:30pm: workshop - developing on resin.io

• 12:30-1pm: lunch 

• 1-2pm: workshop - intro to hardware, sense HATS, and sample projects

• 2-7pm: hackathon!

• 7pm: project show and tell 

Code of Conduct

We want to create a friendly and welcoming environment for all hackathon participants. We expect participants to be respectful and thoughtful in their behavior towards one another.

We will not tolerate any harassment based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, appearance, religion, level of knowledge and experience, or any other attribute. We reserve the right to dismiss any attendees who exhibit unwelcome, disruptive, or hostile behavior.